Two Dealers Hit in Houston

RAPAPORT... Two dealers were hit in separate robberies in Houston, Texas, this week. One dealer was hit Thursday at 10 a.m. in Rice Village just after he'd picked up goods from a jeweler where he'd stashed diamonds overnight for safe keeping. Police believe the robbers followed the dealer from his hotel to the jewelry store.

During yesterday's robbery, three men in a white Chevrolet SUV pulled up behind the dealer preparing to leave Rice Village. The suspects damaged the dealer's automobile by slashing its tires and breaking the rear window. Most of this was captured on video from the store, but a sign in the storefront window blocked the view of suspects attacking the car. The entire event took about 40 seconds. It was the eighth such attack since February.

Another dealer was hit Wednesday outside of his hotel on Interstate 45. The Houston Police and the FBI believe suspects are from South America.

Police estimated $600,000 in stones were taken during Wednesday's heist and the dealer was beaten.

Authorities said the robbers plan these attacks in advance and wait for the right moment. Steven Silver of the Jewelers Security Hotline told the Houston Chronicle that the suspects "see a guy walking [into a jeweler's shop] with suitcases...they know he's not selling gift wrap."